Horn article.



M. E. & H. E. MODONNBLL- HORN ARTICLE.

0 APPLIOATION nun nov. 20, 1901. 932,888; Patented Aug. 31,1909.

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ANDREW. B. GRAHAM co. mowumoqmmma msnmcron. p. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT @EFTQE.

MICHAEL E. MODONNELL AND HERBERT E. MODONNELL, 0F LEOMINSTER,MASSACHUSETTS.

HORN ARTICLE.

T 0 (all whom it may concern:

3e it known that we, MICHAEL EUGENE McDoEnELL and HERBERT E. MCDONNELL,citizens of the United States, residing at Leominster, in the county of\Vorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Horn Articles, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the aceon'ipanyingdrawing.

Our invention relates to articles of personal wear manufactured fromsubstances like animal horn, shell or hoof, and to the method ofmanufacturing the same.

has for its object the improvement of such articles and methods in theparticulars which will hereinafter be pointed out.

l t is a well known fact that almost all animal substances, manyvegetable substances, and some minerals, are injuriously affected byexposure to moisture in any form. The rate of deterioration varies withdifferentsubstances, and with some is quite rapid, while with others itis slow. Horn is peculiarly liable to damage from moisture, whichsoftens it, so that the article composed of this substance will notretain its shape, espe cially where it has been artificially produced,after exposure. rrrticles manufactured from the other substancesmentioned are subject to the same objections as those made from horn,but in varying degrees. In addition to the objection stated, however,there is a further drawback in that articles made from some or all ofthe substances named and especially horn, will not take a high finish,nor is their finish when acquired as durable as on some othersubstances, such for example as nitrocellulose compounds. Nevertheless,the natural substances like horn are safer, especially for personalwear, than the nitrocellulose, because of the inflammable nature of thelatter; and where horn can be kept dry, it possesses a rigidity whichartificial compounds do not have.

The object of our invention is to produce articles from the naturalsubstances named in such a manner that the said substances will be fullyprotected from moisture, a high finish can be obtained, and no risk willbe incurred from combustion or explosion.

Briefly stated, the invention consists in forming articles such as hairpins, combs, barrettes, and the like, of a natural substance andparticularly horn or shell, and then coating the same with aintro-cellulose Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 26, 1907.

Serial No. 403,963.

' compound, which is evaporated to produce a thin, tough and highlyadherent skin completely covering the natural substance so as to protectit, and at the same time giving a high finish. Except for this improvedfinish, there is nothing to indicate to the eye that the coating hasbeen applied, the skin being not only very thin, but substantiallytransparent, so that the natural color of the horn or shell, and thetransmission of light therethrough, remain unchanged.

A conventional embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing which shows a section of a hair pin.

In this drawing the body substance is shown as horn, covered with acelluloid skin. The relative proportions of the body and skin areexaggerated for the purpose of illustration, and it should be understoodthat th latter is so thin that under actual conditions as they exist inpractice, it is scarcely perceptible when viewed in section. In themanufacture of these pins and other articles, we first form the bodiesof horn or shell, shape them and produce a rough or primary finish,which however is imperfect compared to the final finish. The articles inthis condition are then dipped in a solution made in the same manner asa celluloid solution, either with or without camphor. We prefer the useof camphor in the compound, in the proportion of one (1) part by weightof camphor to two parts by weight of soluble nitrated cellulose, whichis the same as the ordinary nitrated cellulose (cotton or tissue paper)used in the manufacture of collodion, celluloid, etc. This makes a stifor body when it is dry and one that takes a higher finish than thatproduced by a solution made without camphor.

The best solution we have found up to this time, is composed of one (1)part by weight of nitrated cellulose and camphor mixed in the aboveproportions, to five (5) parts by weight of amyl acetate. If a quickerdrying solution is required, it can be had by substituting for the amylacetate a mixture of equal parts of amyl acetate and acetone.

It will be understood that while we prefer in general to use thecompound stated, we are not necessarily limited thereto, but may useseveral other cellulose compounds dissolved in ether, alcohol, acetone,amyl acetate, glacial acetic acid, or other nitro-cellulose solvent.

lVhile we have illustrated a hair pin as a Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

typi -al embodiment of the invention, it Will of course be understoodthat the invention also applies to various other articles.

Having thus described our invention What We claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is 1. An article of personal Wear having a body formedof material such as horn, hoof or shell, and a thin, closely adherentand substantially transparent skin of celluloid covering the same.

2. A hair pin having its body formed of material such as horn, and athin, closely adlierent and substantially transparent skin depositedthereon out of a nit-ro-cellulose solution, said skin protectingthe bodyfrom the efi'ects of moisture, producing a high finish thereon, andpreserving the natural color and quality of light transmissiontherethrough.

In testimony whereof We atliX our signatures in presence of twoWitnesses.

MICHAEL E. MCDONNELL. HERBERT E. MODONNELL.

i tn esses 31. A. PUTNAM I 1 C. l. FRETTS.

